Perry Thurston: Rick Scott is trying to Disguise his Education Record

House Minority Leader-designate Perry Thurston, D-Plantation, released the following statement in advance of the Thursday release of Gov. Rick Scott's College and Career FIRST Education Agenda at the Market Watch -- Education Summit in Fort Myers.

Here we go again. Its almost Halloween and Rick Scott is trying to disguise his horrific education record, Thurston stated.

Rick Scott and Republican legislative leaders have drained billions of tax dollars from our public schools, and they have given many of these dollars to out-of-state corporations and for-profit companies who are making money off our childrens education.

I believe, and other Florida House Democratic Caucus members believe, that strong public schools are the pathway to growing our economy and helping middle class families succeed.

Unfortunately, Rick Scott is still not providing Florida the level of education funding improvements that our public schools deserve. Because of Rick Scott and Republican legislative leaders, Florida spends $2 billion less on public education today than was spent only five years ago.

Rick Scott can put away the Halloween mask. Floridians are already scared by his horrific education record.